Mechanical mechanism

ABSTRACT

A cash register is provided with an accumulator and a display. On ADD cycles of the cash register, the accumulator is moved in one direction to engage the digit tape by a pair of eccentrics, and on TOTAL cycles, it is moved in another direction by another eccentric to transfer digital information to the display. Control of the eccentrics is provided by an axially movable timing gear which provides a modified geneva-type mechanical movement.

United States Patent [191 Greskovics I Feb. 26, 1974 [54] MECHANICALMECHANISM 3,234,8l9 2/1966 Zuse 74/436 X 546,055 9 1895 P' 74 55 XInventor! Paul Greskovics, Manhattan Beach, 3,260,128 7/1966 GZSSinO etal. 74/84 x Calif.

[73] Assignee: Litton Business Systems, Inc., New primary n Hermann YorkNY Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alan C. Rose [22] Filed: Sept. 11, 1972 [2]]Appl. N0; 270,601 57 ABSTRACT Related U.S. Application Data Division ofSer. No. 50,063, June 26, 1970, Pat. No. 3,698,628.

U.S. Cl. 74/55, 74/435 Int. Cl. F16h 25/14, Fl6h 27/08 Field of Search74/55, 84, 435, 436, 665 Q References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1955Stott et al. 74/55 X A cash register is provided with an accumulator anda display. On ADD cycles of the cash register, the accumulator is movedin one direction to engage the digit tape by a pair of eccentrics, andon TOTAL cycles, it is moved in another direction by another eccentricto transfer digital information to the display. Control of theeccentrics is provided by an axially movable timing gear which providesa modified geneva-type mechanical movement.

19 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZBW v 3;793.894

sneenur? Mama/4 4/02 MECHANICAL MECHANISM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This application is a divisional of US. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 50,063 entitled BUSINESS MACHINE filed on June 26, 1970, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,698,628 issued on Oct. 16, I973.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to mechanical mechanismsfor business machines.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-identified patentapplication and in the detailed description which follows, a cashregister is described in which the accumulator is moved down intoengagement with digit tapes to receive digital input information on ADDcycles, and is moved to the rear to transfer the contents of theaccumulator to the display on TOTAL cycles. In the usual supermarkettransaction, a number of ADD cycles occur as the clerk enters the valueof specific purchases, and the TOTAL cycle occurs after all of theindividual purchases have been entered. The present invention involvesthe mechanism by which the accumulator register is selectively movedeither downward and upward, or to the rear and forward, in accordancewith the selected ADD or TOTAL cycle of operation of the cash register.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, this movement isaccomplished by two eccentric assemblies. One of the eccentricassemblies includes a pair of eccentrics at each end of the accumulatorcarriage which are operated in synchronism. The eccentrics are journaledin the main frame of the cash register and their eccentric surfacesengage the carriage of the accumulator. For movement in one direction,one of the eccentric assemblies is held fixed to serve as a guide, whilethe paired eccentrics are rotated together to move the entireaccumulator carriage. For movement in the other direction, the twopaired eccentrics are held fixed to guide the motion, while the thirdeccentric is rotated to provide a positively controlled movement in theother direction for the accumulator carriage.

A modified geneva mechanism is provided to control the movement of theeccentrics. The paired eccentrics are interconnected by gears so thatthey rotate together. One of the paired eccentrics is mounted on a shaftwhich is also provided with a gear forming part of the geneva mechanism.The third eccentric, which provides motion in the other direction, isalso provided with a gear forming part of the geneva mechanism.

These two gears coact with a timer gear having a central ridge whichextends over its entire periphery. This timer gear is axially shifted topermit selective rotation of one of the two gears associated with acorresponding eccentric, or the other.

In one of the two axial positions of the timer gear, a flat portion onthe hub of one of the eccentric gears is continuallyin engagement withthe peripheral ridge of the timer gear. The other eccentric gear,however, has the flat portion on its hub in engagement with the timergear ridge for much of the cash register cycle, but the ridge isrelieved to permit rotation of the eccentric gear by mating gear teethon the timer gear, at two points around the periphery of the timer gear.Similarly, when the timer gear is in its other axial position, the othereccentric gear is actuated in a corresponding manner.

The timer gear is axially shifted by a pair of pins mounted on anenclosing housing. These pins are mounted on a frame which movesparallel to a diameter of the timer gear, and in the rest positionbetween cash register cycles, they are located adjacent ramps orinclined surfaces on the timer gear which extend along a diameter of thetimer gear. When the enclosing carriage is moved to a positioncorresponding to the ADD cycle of the cash register, the pins are movedradially on the ramps to push the timer gear to one axial position. Whenthe enclosing housing is moved in the other direction, the pins ride onthe ramps in the other direction and push the timer gear to its otheraxial position. Once a cash register cycle starts and the timer gearstarts to rotate, however, at least one of the pins is locked in agroove, thus preventing movement of the enclosing selection housing.

Accordingly, one feature of the invention involves the selectiveactuation of two eccentric assemblies to provide selective relativemotion in different directions when one of the eccentric assemblies isheld and the other is moved.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the rotation of twoshafts may be selectively controlled by a modified geneva-type action inwhich a timer gear is provided with two axial positions, to selectivelymove two gears connected respectively to the two shafts. In one of thetwo axial positions, a first one of two gears is intermittently rotatedwhile the second is held in a fixed position, while in the other axialposition of the timer gear, the second gear is rotated while the firstis held in a fixed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other aspects and features of theinvention will become apparent from a consideration of the detaileddescription and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembly view showing the complete cash register togetherwith the cash drawer on which it stands;

FIG. IA is a view of the business machine showing both sets of displaywindows;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the operating portions of the cashregister of FIG. 1 without the cash drawer and with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the keyboard assemlv;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a single key row; FIG. 5 is an end view of thekey row shown in FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a single key of the keyboard;

FIG. 6 is a view of the two slides which prevent actuation of any otherkeys and provide other functions when one cash register key in a givenkey row is depressed;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the mode of operation of the flexibledigit tapes;

FIG. 8 shows the by-pass stops secured to the ends of each digit tape;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the digit tapes and their stops;

FIG. 10 shows the tape constraining frame or assembly cut away to showseveral of the tapes;

FIG. 11 shows the accumulator assembly and the engagement with the digittapes;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display assembly;

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view shwoing the relationships ofthe principal components of the cash register;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the register which shows the accumulatormovement control arrangements to advantage;

FIGS. 15, 16, 16A, and 16B are various views of the accumulator controltiming gear and the associated accumulator camming control gears;

FIG. 17 shows the drive line including the gears which engage theperforations in the flexible digit tapes;

FIG. 18 shows a positively driven disc and drive gear pair, which arecoupled together by a spring biased pawl;

FIG. 19 shows the drive sector gear and the driven gear at one end ofthe drive line;

FIG. 20 shows an accumulator gear together with the stop mechanism whichcome into play as information is being transferred from the accumulatorto the dis- P y;

FIG. 21 shows the accumulator mask moving mechanism;

FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the timing of the operation of certainparts of the cash register during an operating cycle;

FIG. 23 is a side view of an alternative cash register construction; and

FIGS. 24 and 25 are side and front views of the details of theaccumulator moving and control mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1shows the cash register assembly 40 standing on the cash drawer assembly42. The viewing windows 43 for the clerk and 45 for the customer areshown in FIG. 1A. As seen in both FIGS. 1 and 2, the cash registerincludes a keyboard assembly 100, a base and power unit 200, anindicator or display assembly 300 and an accumulator assembly 400. Alsovisible in FIG. 2 are the ADD or TOTAL control member 450 whichdetermines the mode of operation of the accumulator 400, as implementedby the accumulator timing gear 460 and its associated mechanicalmechanisms.

With reference to FIG. 3, the keyboard 100 includes a plurality of keyrows 101 through 106. The individual key row moldings are provided withrecesses at opposite ends for ease in mounting the key rows side by sideon the shafts 112 and 114. As mentioned above, most of the majorsubcomponents of the present cash register are mounted on shafts forready assembly with the side plates of the base unit 200.

As shown to better advantage in FIGS. 4, 5, A and 6, each key row 101through 106 may be provided with a set of nine keys 121 through 129,with key 122 being depressed in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 4.Each key row is also provided with two interlock slides 132 and 134,shown in FIG. 6. The key row assembly is provided with a single spiralbiasing spring 136. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the biasing spring 136extends through the interlock slides 132 and 134 to bias them to theirnormal positions. In addition, the biasing for each of the plastic keys121 through 129 is provided by the same single spring 136. As shown inFIG. 4, for example, the spring 136 is extended at 138 to provide upwardpressure on the key 122 through the integral recess molded into the rearof the key 122. FIG. 5A shows a key 122 separately, to indicate thestructure of the integral key. The head of the key, the spring 141 whichholds the keys in frame 101, the slide engaging stud 140, and the springengaging recess 143 are all molded into the key as it is formed.

The lower end 142 of the key 122 protrudes below the key row assembly101 and below the interlock slides 132 and 134 to block the movement ofthe stop which is secured onto one end of the flexible tapes in a mannerto be discussed in greater detail below. The lightweight molded plastickeys 122 would normally not have sufficient strength to stop a heavymetal rack as employed in conventional cash registers. However, theflexible tapes which are used instead of racks in the present cashregister have such a light weight and such low inertia that there is noproblem with the end 142 of the lightweight plastic keys stopping theflexible plastic tapes.

Concerning the operation of the metal slides 132 and 134, the spring 136extends through slot 139 in slide 132 at the left-hand end of slide 132where there is no interference with slide 134. Similarly, the other endof spring 136 extends through slot 147 in slide 134 at its right-handend to avoid interference with slide 132 in the biasing or positioningfunction. The sole function of slide 134 is to control the accumulatorzero stop 143. When none of the nine keys 121 through 129 of a key rowis depressed, the accumulator zero stop 143 is in one position; however,when any key, such as key 122, is depressed, the slide 134 is shifted tothe left and accumulator zero stop 143 is rotated to permit operation ofthe associated accumulator register.

The slide 132 provides interlocking functions. It is normally biased sothat the angle surfaces 144 underlie the key studs 140. When a key isdepressed, the stud initially moves the locking slide 132 to the rightand then enters the recess 146 which is below the slanted surface 144.

Once the ADD or TOTAL key 450 is hit, the keyboard control shaft 150 isactuated to the left to engage the arm 152 which depends from the slide132. This moves the slide 132 to the left so that the flat surfaces 154on slide 132 underlie the studs 140 of the keys, and thus effectivelylock them out and prevent further action of the keyboard. Toward the endof each cycle, the shaft 150 is moved to the right to release all thekeys.

It is again noted that the entire key row assembly only includesfourteen elements and particularly that only two slides are employed.This is in sharp contrast with fifty-three parts included in the key rowassembly of at least one'widely used commercial cash register. Further,the single spiral spring 136 not only provides the biasing for all ofthe keys of each key row but also biases the two slides 132 and 134 totheir proper positions.

FIG. 7 shows schematically the mode of operation of the plastic tapes 60which form a key component in the present invention. In the course ofthe cycle of operation of the present cash register, the digit tapes arealways coupled to the display wheels of the indicator assembly 300. Whencash register operation is initiated by pressing the ADD control, thedigit tapes are restored to their zero state in which the tapes areshifted to the front, or the left of the machine as shown in FIG. 7. Theflexible tapes are then driven forward by the drive line gears 202 untilthe stop 62 which is secured to the end of the tape 60 engages the lowerend of a depressed key 126, as shown in FIG. 7. As the flexible digittape moves forward, the gears of the accumulator 400 are rotated, withthe gears of the item total accumulator engaging one of the sets ofperforations 64, while the gear teeth on the grand total accumulatorengage the other set of perforations 66 in the flexible plastic tape 60.When the stop 62 engages the lower end of the key 126, the drive line202 releases the force applied to the tape 60, as discussed in greaterdetail below, the indicator 300 displays the digit corresponding thedepressed key 126, and the accumulator 400 adds the digit in both theitem total and the grand total registers.

As the flexible tape is driven past the gears of the drive line 202, itis deflected downwardly by the tape constraining enclosure 204 and alsoengages the rear casing 206 of the cash register. By this technique, theuse of additional rearwardly extending space for the cash register toaccommodate the tapes is avoided, and the complexity of the step-up andstep-down gearing, which is required in present cash registers, is alsoeliminated. The dual goals of compactness and simplicity are thusachieved primarily by the use of very flexible tapes which are bentaround within the small confines of the present compact cash register.

The movable tape is provided with a plastic retaining element 68 for thestop 62. The retainer 68 extends through an opening in the tape 60 andserves as a carrier for the stop 62. When the tapes are driven to thezero position so that the stop 62 moves to its extreme left or frontposition, the stop 62 must pass under a depressed key such as key 126 inFIG. 7. Under these conditions, it pivots downwardly, as indicated at 70in FIG. 8. Under these conditions, the tongue 72 of the tape 60resiliently flexes down also, as indicated in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 9, the thickness of the tape is exaggerated to some extent. Thetapes are actually about 0.020 inch thick. The tapes are l3 /2 incheslong and five-eighths inch wide.

FIG. 10 shows the frame 204 which constrains the tapes 60 to follow arectilinear path in the regions where the stops 62 underlie the keyboard100. As shown in FIG. 10, the frame 204 is provided with slots 206through which the stops 62 extend to engage the lower ends of depressedkeys. In addition, the drive gears engage the tapes through the longslots 208 which are aligned with one of the sets of perforations in eachtape 60. The slots 210 accommodate accumulator transfer bails, whichcome into play when transfers are made from one register to the nexthigher order. The accumulator register gears engage the tapes 60 throughthe slots 214, with the item total gears engaging the right-hand row ofperforations, and the grand total gears, the left. The gears for drivingthe set of indicator wheels which are read by the clerk or the operatorof the cash register extend through the front of slots 208. The slots212 accommodate an accumulator detent. The shorter set of slots 216which are interleaved with the slots 208 are located between adjacenttapes and accommodate the gears which drive the customer indicatorwheels as described below.

In general, the frame 204 provides the support and channeling necessaryto constrain the plastic tapes 60 to the paths required for their properoperation. With the indicated physical configuration, the tapes 60 haveoperated several million times without physical signs of wear andwithout tape failure.

The accumulator assembly 400 is shown in FIG. 11. The grand totalregister includes the indicator wheels 401, 403, 405, etc., while thesubtotal is displayed on the indicator wheels 402, 404, 406, etc. Thegears secured to the indicator wheels 401, 403, 405, etc., associatedwith the grand total engage the right-hand set of perforations on thedigit tapes 60 as shown in FIG. 11, while the gears associated with thesubtotal wheels 402, 404, 406 engage the left-hand set of perforationsof the tapes 60.

The view of FIG. 11 is taken from the rear of the machine looking downat the tapes 60 between the accumulator and the indicator wheels. Abovethe accumulator indicator wheels is a mask 412 containing a series ofwindows 414. The mask 414 is normally positioned so that the operator ofthe cash register may view the subtotal registered on a particularcustomers sale through the windows 414. When the key locking the cashregister is employed, however, the mask 412 is shifted laterally topermit the viewing of the grand total register wheels through windows414 to the exclusion of the subtotal.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the indicator or display assembly 300. Theindicator assembly includes two sets of interleaved indicator wheels,the first set 308 being visible from the front of the machine by theoperator, while the second set 310 is observable by the customer fromthe rear of the machine. In addition, of course, the position of thewheels having more or less significant numbers must be reversed, withthe least significant digit appearing to the right in the set of thewheels 308 observed by the clerk while the least significant digitobserved by the customer must be on the left-hand in- I dicator wheel310, as seen in FIG. 12.

As described below in connection with FIG. 13, the gears 306 in theforeground are directly coupled to one of the two rows of perforationsin the tape 60. Gears 306 engage gears 312 associated with the clerkindica tor wheels 308. The drive for the customer indicator wheels 310is somewhat more complex as it involves the gears 304 (to the rear inFIG. 12) which mesh with the gear teeth 314 associated with the customerindicator wheels 310. The shaft 316 upon which the indicator wheels 308and 310 are mounted is supported in the keyhole slot 318 as shown, forexample, in FIGS. 2 and 14.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the relativepositions of most of the main rotatable components or assemblies.Following the application of power to the cash register when the ADD orTOTAL control is pressed, the motor 222 is coupled through a rubber belt224 to the power speed reducer assembly 226. An auxiliary hand-crankdrive coupling is also connected to the power speed reducer 226 throughgear 228. The cam line 230 is driven from gear 232 on the speed reducerassembly 226 through gear 236 on the cam line. The clutch gear 236 ismounted on the cam line assembly 230. The metal drive sector gear 238 ispivoted at 240 and is bent into a U-shaped form with a cam pin 242securely fastened to the inner leg 244 of the drive sector gearassembly. The pin 242 rides in a groove in a cam in the cam lineassembly 230. The power for the drive gears 246 is provided through theteeth 248 of the metal drive sector gear 238. These teeth 248 mesh withthe gear 250 which is fixed or pinned to the drive line shaft 252.

As in the case of a number of the assemblies of the present machine, thedrive line shaft 252 is cut away in two areas from end to end. The gear250 is provided with matching protrusions at its center. Accordingly, itis rigidly secured against rotational movement relative to the shaft252, and is pinned to this shaft. Where it is desired to mount otherfreely rotatable gears or other mechanisms on the same shaft, they maybe formed with a circular opening in the center. Without the keyingstructure to lock or pin them to the drive shaft 252, they are free torotate. Accordingly, a single shaft with longitudinal slots may serve adual purpose, acting both as a drive shaft and also as an axle for freerotation of other coaxially mounted elements.

From the drive gears 246, power is transmitted directly to theperforated tapes 60. As the sector gear follows the programmed cammingmotion of the cam line assembly 230, the tapes 60 are initially restoredto their zero" position and are then driven forward by the drive gears246 until they engage stops such as the lower end of depressed key 126(see FIG. 7). A clutching mechanism, to be described in greater detailbelow, then releases the drive to the individual tapes and permits thetape to remain in its position corresponding to the depressed digit key.

The accumulator assembly 400 has its principal axis located at point425. As indicated by the arrows, the accumulator may be moved down andup for engagementor disengagement, respectively, with the tapes 60, ormay be moved to the rear toward the indicator assembly 300 to transfertotals stored in the accumulator to the indicator assembly. The circles422, 424 and 426 in FIG. 13 represent the mechanisms involving gears,camming surfaces and a Geneva-type movement which control the movementof the accumulator registers. These mechanisms will be described ingreater detail below.

Included in the indicator assembly 300 are one set of indicator wheelswhich are visible by the customer and another set ofindicator wheelswhich may be viewed by the clerk. The customer indicator wheels aredriven by the transfer gears 302 through a set of gears which aremounted for free rotation on the drive shaft 252 and which mesh with thecustomer indicator drive gears 304. The clerk indicator display wheels,however, are driven by the gears 306 directly from the tapes 60.

When information is being transferred from the accumulator registers tothe indicator assembly, the shaft 425 moves to the right and theindicator assembly is energized through the gears 308. Although thegears 306 are close to gears 308, there is clearance and no directinteraction between gears 306 and 308.

Many of the critical details of the structure shown schematically inFIG. 13 will be discussed in greater detail below in connection withother FIGURES in the drawing.

FIGS. 14 through 16 are particularly useful in describing the mode ofoperation of the accumulator 400. The accumulator can move eitherperpendicular to the keyboard or parallel to it. As indicated by thearrows and legends on the face of the accumulator side frame member 470in FIG. 14, the accumulator assembly moves up and down for engagementand disengagement with the digit tapes on ADD cycles and moves to therear and forward in the course of TOTAL cycles in transferring thecontents of its subtotal register to the display unit 300. An ADD or aTOTAL cycle is initiated by pressing the key 450 in the forward or therear direction, respectively. The key 450 is pivoted at point 452 andhas a flexible arm 454 which is pivotally connected to the controllinkage 456 at point 458.

The central shaft 462, to which the timer gear 460 is secured, is fixedin position. When the ADD or TOTAL control lever 450 is pressed, thelinkage 456, which includes the frame 464 enclosing the timer gear 460,is moved to the front or the rear as indicated by the arrows adjacentthe numeral 464 in FIG. 14. On ADD cycles the frame 464 moves to therear and on TOTAL cycles the frame 464 moves toward thefront of themachine. Between cycles the frame 464 is maintained in a position suchthat the shaft 462 if centrally located with respect to the slot 466. Inthe arrangement shown in FIG. 14, the relationship of the partsindicates that an ADD cycle is underway.

The movement of the accumulator is controlled by three eccentrics 472,473 and 474. In FIG. 14, the numerals 473 and 474 are directed to gearswhich conceal the eccentrics 473 and 474, which are located directlybehind them. As clearly shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the eccentrics aremounted to rotate in the rectangular slots 476, 477 and 478. Acorresponding set of three eccentrics mounted on corresponding shaftsare located at the other side of the register. One of these eccentrics474" is shown in FIG. 25.

The eccentric 472 and 474, which rotate in slots 476 and 478 control theupward and downward movement of the accumulator register, while theeccentric 473 in slot 477 controls the forward and backward movement ofthe accumulator register on TOTAL cycles. During ADD cycles theeccentric 473 is held against rotation while the gear 474 and associatedeccentric 474' and eccentric 472 (which is geared to 474) are rotated toraise and lower the accumulator. Similarly, on TOTAL cycles the gear 473and its associated eccentric 473' are rotated to move the accumulatorassembly to the rear and forward while the gear 474 and its associatedeccentric 474 and the paired eccentric 472 are held against rotation toprovide guiding action. Eccentrics 474 and 472 are geared to rotatetogether by gear 422 formed as part of a single molding with eccentric474 (see FIG. 25) and gears 424 and 426 (see FIG. 13). Gears 422 and 426are pinned to the shafts on which they are mounted, but idler gear 424is free to rotate on the shaft on which eccentrics 473' and 473 arefixedly secured.

The implementation of the described motion of the gears 474 may bebetter understood by reference to FIGS. 16, 16A and 16B. In FIG. 16A,the timer gear 460 is shown in solid lines in the ADD position. Underthese circumstances the gear 473 has two flat portions on its hub 480which engage the periphery of the ridge 482 on the timer gear topreclude rotation of the shaft 481 and its associated eccentric. Gear474, however, which controls the movement of an associated eccentric onshaft 484, and the mechanically coupled eccentric 472, areintermittently rotated. FIG. 16B shows the arrangements for selectivelyand intermittently locking and rotating the gears 473 and 474. In FIG.16B, the gear 474 is shown with the flat portion 486 of its hub 488engaging a flat portion of the ridge 482. As the timer gear is rotated,the gear teeth 474 engage the teeth 490 on the timer gear. The ridge 482is cut away as indicated by the dashed lines 492 to permit rotation ofthe shaft 484 under the control of the meshing gears 474 and 490. Thisarrangement is shown as viewed from above in FIG. 16A.

As shown in FIG. 16, the timer gear 460 has two sets of gear teeth 490and 494 which engage the gear teeth 474 to first rotate the accumulatordown for engagement with the tapes and subsequently shift theaccumulator up to the disengaged rest position which it maintainsbetween cycles. During this complete ADD cycle, the central shaft 481and the eccentric which is associated with it and the gear 473 is heldagainst rotation by the flat portion on hub 480 being in continuousengagement with the periphery of ridge 482.

On TOTAL cycles, however, the function of gears 473 and 474 areinterchanged. This is accomplished by shifting the timing gear wheel 460to the position, as shown in dashed lines, in FIG. 16A. The flatportions on the hub 488 of gear 474 are continuously in engagement withthe periphery of ridge 482 when the timer gear is in this shiftedposition. However, the gear teeth 473 are now aligned with teeth 496 ofthe timer wheel 460 and gear 473 is permitted to rotate as a result ofthe displacement and the presence of the recess 498 in the ridge 482adjacent the gear teeth 496.

The timer gear 460 is keyed to the shaft 462 but is permitted to slideback and forth as indicated by the solid and the dashed line showings ofFIG. 16A. In the neutral position, between cycles, the pins 502 and 504are located in contact with inclined faces on the timer gear wheelsurfaces shown at 506 in FIG. 16 of the drawings. When the ADD or TOTALcontrol 450 is pressed, the slide 464 moves from its neutral position sothat one of the pins such as 504 which is visible in FIG. 14 ispermitted to ride in a track such as track 506 as shown in FIG. 16. Theother pin will then be located close to the hub of the timer gear 460and will rotate on a raised surface in this location and will maintainpressure on the timer gear wheel 460 forcing it in the desired in orout" position for TOTAL or ADD cycle operations, respectively.

Incidentally, for. completeness, it should be noted that the showing ofFIG. 15 is from above with the timer gear in the in position for a TOTALcycle. This is in contrast to the showing of FIG. 16A in which the solidline position is the ADD position.

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the drive line including the various gearswhich are mounted on the central shaft 252 of the drive line assembly.As may be seen from FIG. 13, the drive shaft is located below the tapes60 so that the drive gears 246 may readily engage the tape toward therear of the cash register as its path is deflected downward. Asdiscussed above in connection with FIG. 13, it is only alternate gearassemblies 246 which have inner hubs which are pinned to the shaft 252and which rotate with it. The alternate gears 247 are mounted on thesame shaft as the drive gear assemblies 246 but are not pinned to it, soare free to rotate about shaft 252.

As mentioned above, the customer indicator display wheels must berotated in synchronism with the clerk indicator display wheels, but thedigits are reversed in their position. To accommodate this purpose,transfer gears 302 are provided. Three transfer gears 302 are shownmounted on and pinned to shaft 303. The gear 302 is rotated with thedrive gear 246 and constrains the two other gears 302' and 302" torotate in synchronism with it. This causes the right-hand customerindicator drive gear 247 to rotate in step with the left-hand gear 246as shown in FIG. 17. Similarly, the printer gear wheel 602 is driven bytransfer gear 302" to establish proper information relating to the leastsignificant digit of the information registered by the left-hand drivegear 246.

As shown in FIG. 18, the drive gears 246 are driven from the drive shaft252 through a drive hub 262 which is provided with a disc portion 264and a central cylindrical portion 266 which is keyed to the drive shaft252. The cylindrical central hub 268 of the drive gear assembly 246rotates on the cylinder 266. The pawl 270 is pivoted at 272 and isbiased to the indicated po sition by spring 274. This normally holds thebearing member 276 of the pawl assembly 270 in the pocket 278 of thedrive gear assembly.

Under normal conditions as an ADD cycle of the cash register isinitiated, the drive shaft 252 drives the drive hub 262 in the directionindicated by the arrow 280, in restoring the tapes to the 0" position.During this operation, of course, the teeth of drive gears 246 are inengagement with one of the sets of perforations in the digit tape 60.The direction is reversed as the tapes move toward engagement withdepressed keys. When the stop on the tape 60 engages a depressed key,the tape immediately stops. This stops the drive gear 246 and the biasof spring 274 is overcome, permitting the pawl 270 to come out of thepocket 278 and freely rotate in the recess 282 of the drive gearassembly 246. In this way, each drive gear 246 stops at an angularposition determined by the depressed keys on the keyboard.

With reference to FIG. 19, the metal drive sector gear 238 is shownpivotally mounted about the shaft 240 for movement under the control ofthe cam 292 having a cam slot 294 with which the pin 242 coacts. Theplastic main drive gear 250 is mounted on the drive shaft 252 forrotation in accordance with the movement of the drive sector gear 238,causing, for example,

initial restoration of the tapes to the zero position and subsequentrearward movement of the tapes on the power portion of the cycle.

FIG. 20 shows one of the accumulator gears 402 associated with theaccumulator indicator wheel as described above in connection with FIG.11. Within the indicator and gear wheel assembly 402 is a central hub422 pinned to the central accumulator shaft 424. On normal ADD cycles,the gear 402 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as indicated byarrow 426. With this direction of rotation, the pawl 428 is pivotedagainst the pressure of spring 430 when it is engaged by the accumulatorzero stop 432. The pawl 428 then swings away from its restrained stop434 toward the center hub 422 of the assembly, permitting continuedrotation of the accumulator wheel assembly 402.

On TOTAL cycles, however, when the contents of the accumulator registerare being transferred to the display or indicator assembly 300, theaccumulator gear assembly 402 rotates in the clockwise direction asindicated by arrow 436. The pawl 428 is mounted on pivot point 438 whichis fixed to the stationary center assembly mounted on and pinned toshaft 424. This is in contrast to the gear and indicator assemblies 402which are mounted for free rotation on the same shaft 424. Accordingly,when the accumulator register is shifted to the rear and driven throughgear 308 from power supplied through the indicator assembly gearing, thegears 402 rotate in the clockwise direction unitl the zero stop 432engages the pawl 428. When this occurs, the release of the drive gearsfrom the drive line, as discussed in detail above in connection withFIG. 18, occurs. Accordingly, the indicator wheels will stop in aposition corresponding to that which has been registered in theaccumulator TOTAL registers.

FIG. 21 shows the mechanism for shifting the mask 412 as shown in FIG.11. In FIG. 21, the lock 522 controls the movement of the mask 412. Theblock 524 is fixed in position as is the support 526 for the spring 528.Incidentally, the spring 528 is secured in an opening 530 in the mask412 to bias the mask to its position in-which the subtotal rather thanthe grand total is revealed. When a key is inserted into the key slot532, the cylindrical member 522 together with the cam 534 and the forkmember 536 secured to the mask 412 may be moved to the right rear asshown in FIG. 21. This shifting of the mask 412 serves to reveal thegrand total set of indicator wheels instead of the subtotal, asdescribed in some detail in connection with FIG. 11. When pressure isreleased from the key, the slide is returned to the front left positionas shown in FIG. 21 by the force of the leaf spring 528. Removal of thekey locks the mask in place.

FIG. 22 is a timing diagram showing the relative time of operation ofthe accumulator movement, the timer gear shifting, and the drive rackmotion. In reviewing the cycle from to the 360 termination of the cycle,with the degrees referring to the angular orientation of the timer gear460 and the cam 292 of FIG. 19, it may be noted that the drive racks areinitially restored, are held in the 0 position from about l00 to about140, and digit selection takes place from about 140 to 280. The cam slot294 (See FIG. 19) of course follows the displacements indicated in theDrive Tape plot of FIG. 22.

When it occurs, the timer gear shifting takes place at an early point inthe cycle. However, the timer gear does not shift on successive ADDcycles, for example. When an ADD cycle is followed by a TOTAL cycle, orvice-verse, the timer gear is shifted from one position to the other asindicated by the solid line or the dash line plots.

The accumulator movement occurs between 1 and 140. This is the time whenthe accumulator is either moved down into engagement with the racks (nowin their 0 position) or to the rear into driving engagement with thedisplay assembly. Following completion of the drive rack selection(which occurs at about 280) the accumulator is restored to its regularposition. This occurs from about 3l0 to 340.

An alternate embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 23. Thecash register as shown in FIG. 23 is generally patterned after the cashregister described hereinabove, but has two of the main assembliesshifted in a manner which provides certain economies in parts.

Referring to FIG. 23 in greater detail, it shows the main framestructure 702 of the cash register, the keyboard 704, the accumulatorregister 706, the drive assembly 708 and the indicator assembly 710. Asin the case of the cash register described in connection with FIGS. 1through 22 of the drawings, the present cash register includes a seriesof flexible digit tapes 712. By' shifting the drive line 708 from aposition below the digit tapes 712 to a position above the digit tapes,the indicator assembly 710 is raised for better visibility, and certaintransfer gearing is eliminated. The transfer gears 714 serve the samefunctions as described above in connection with the transfer gears 302,but some of the gear assemblies such as gears 304, 306 and 308 may beeliminated. As in the case of the other embodiment of the cash register,the accumulator 706 is shifted both up and down for ADD cycles and tothe rear and forward for TOTAL cycles Apart from the shifting of theposition of the drive line and the concomitant changes in structure suchas those mentioned above. the embodiment of FIG. 23 operates insubstantially the same manner as that of the other embodiment of theinvention. 1

Concerning the materials which may be employed in the implementation ofthe illustrated cash register, wide use is made of plastics. One of thepreferred plastic materials is a DuPont material known as DELRIN. Thisis a homopolymer of formaldehyde with a very low coefficient offriction, good flexibility and high strength. DELRIN is described, forexample, in the March 1970 issue of Materials Engineering. The digittapes may be made of DELRIN ofa thickness of about 0.020 inch as notedabove. CELCON is a copolymer of formaldehyde and could also be used formany other parts of the cash register. Fiberglass-filled nylon is alsoemployed for various parts, for example, for the drive hubs. It is, ofcourse, undesirable to have two parts of the same material havingsurfaces which slide on one another, as this tends toward increasedfriction and possible binding. Another material which may be used in thecash register, for example in the key row, is NO- RYL, which is afiberglass-filled polyphenol oxide. Of course, a number of parts of theregister are made of steel, where high strength is required. Theseprincipally include the frame of the machine, the shafts, and certainkey high-strength parts such as the drive sector gear.

The foregoing description has been focused primarily on the structuralfeatures and interrelationships which are different from those found inconventional cash registers. Details of well-known structures andrelationships, and arrangements known to those skilled in the art havebeen eliminated for purposes of brevity and clarity.

In the course of the present description of the invention, thecompactness of the cash register has been mentioned at several points.As a matter of completeness, it may be noted that the overall dimensionsof the base or cash drawer upon which the rest of the cash registersits, are approximately 15- /2 inches wide, by 17 inches deep, by 4inches high. The cash register apparatus excluding the cash drawerassembly is approximately 14 inches wide, by 16 inches deep, by 1 1inches high.

In closing it is noted that other known arrangements may be substitutedfor specific components disclosed in the present description, andvarious alternative constructions may be employed. For example, inconnection with the eccentrics, a set of six eccentrics has beendisclosed for moving the accumulator. However, the relative positioningof two plates may be accomplished merely by using the three eccentricslocated at one side of the cash register. In that event, the pair ofeccentrics would control movement in one direction while the singleeccentric would provide movement in the other direction. Further,controlled differential movement may be accomplished using only twoeccentrics with clearance being provided only on one side of eacheccentric. Under these circumstances, the fixed eccentric would serve asa pivot point while the moving eccentric would rotate one memberrelative to the other. In such arrangements, limitations on the angularrotation of the eccentrics would be appropriate to avoid mechanicalinterferences. Concerning the timer gear and the modified geneva gearmechanism, instead of axially shifting the timer gear, both of the twosmaller gears could be shifted on their shafts with respect to theposition ofthe timer gear to select the desired cash register cycle.

Other similar variations within the scope of one skilled in the artwould also be possible.

What is claimed is:

1. A business machine having a chassis, the machine comprising:

an accumulator;

displaceable support means for the accumulator;

first eccentric means rotatable about a first axis,

which is stationary with respect to the chassis, and operatively coupledto said support means for selectively driving said support means in afirst direction with respect to the chassis; and

second eccentric means rotatable about a second different axis, which isalso stationary with respect to the chassis, and operatively coupled tosaid support means for selectively driving said support means in asecond direction with respect to the chassis.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first eccentric means isoperatively coupled to said support means by means cooperating with saidfirst eccentric means to guide said support means in said seconddirection when selectively driven by said second eccentric means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said first eccentric means comprisesat least one eccentrically mounted drive member, and said support meansincludes at least one surface of an opening in said support means andengaging an associated drive member.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein each surface is orientedperpendicular to said first direction, and each opening furtherproviding a clearance with respect to its corresponding drive member inthe second direction.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second eccentric means isoperatively coupled to said support means by means cooperating with saidsecond eccentric means to guide said support means in said firstdirection when selectively driven by said first eccentric means.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said second eccentric meanscomprises at least one eccentrically mounted drive member, and saidsupport means includes at least one surface engaging each drive memher.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein each surface is orientedperpendicular to said second direction, and each opening furtherproviding a clearance with respect to its corresponding drive member inthe first direction.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said second eccentric meanscomprises at least one eccentrically mounted drive member, and saidsupport means includes openings each opening receiving an associateddrive member, each opening having a pair of oppositely oriented surfacescontacting said associated drive member.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein each pair of said surfaces isoriented perpendicular to said second direction, and each openingfurther providing a clearance with respect to its associated drivemember in the first direction.

10. The invention of claim 2 wehrein said first eccentric meanscomprises at least one eccentrically mounted drive member, and saidsupport means includes openings each opening receiving an associateddrive member, each opening having a pair of oppositely oriented surfacesfor contacting said associated drive member.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein each pair of said cam surfaces isoriented perpendicular to said first direction, and each opening furtherproviding a clearance with respect to its associated drive member in thesecond direction.

12. The invention of claim 1 further comprising means for selectivelyrotating said first eccentric means while holding said second eccentricmeans fixed, and for selectively rotating said second eccentric meanswhile holding the first eccentric means fixed, to selectively providedisplacement of said support means in one of two different directionswith respect to said chassis.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said rotating means comprisesfirst and second arcuate gear racks operatively coupled to first andsecond gears secured to said first and second eccentric meansrespectively.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein said rotating means furthercomprises means including a timer gear of the machine for controllingthe motion of said first and second arcuate gear racks to hold one ofthem against rotation and to intermittently rotate the other.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said rotating means furthercomprises means for axially shifting said timer gear to hold said firstarcuate gear rack fixed while rotating the second, or to hold the secondarcuate gear rack fixed while intermittently rotating the first.

16. In combination:

first and second shafts;

first and second gears secured respectively to said first and secondshafts; and

means including an axially shiftable timer gear for selectively holdinga first one of said gears against rotation while intermittently rotatingthe second, and for holding said second gear fixed while intermittentlyrotating said first gear.

17. In combination:

a first, stationary member;

a second member displaceably mounted with respect to the first member;

first and second eccentric assemblies each mounted for rotation about arespectively different axis fixed with respect to the first member andoperatively interconnecting said first and second members; and

means for selectively rotating said first eccentric assembly whileholding the second assembly fixed, and means for selectively rotatingsaid second eccentric assembly while holding the first assembly fixed,to selectively provide displacement of said second member in one of twodifferent directions with respect to the first member.

18. The combination as defined in claim 17 for providing relativemovement between two members either in a first predetermined directionor in a different direction, said members having openings, wherein:

said first eccentric assembly includes a pair of eccentrics each havingits shaft journaled in one of said members and the eccentric portionconfined in an opening in the other member, said openings each havingone side extending in said first direction and engaging each saideccentric for producing movement in a direction generally perpendicularto said side when said eccentrics are rotated, said openings havingclearance for said eccentrics in other directions; and

said second eccentric assembly includes a thrid ec- 19. The combinationas defined in claim 17, comprismeans for positively restraining rotationof the first eccentric assembly during operation of said means forrotating the second eccentric assembly; and

means for positively restraining rotation of the second eccentricassembly during operation of said means for rotating the first eccentricassembly.

1. A business machine having a chassis, the machine comprising: anaccumulator; displaceable support means for the accumulator; firsteccentric means rotatable about a first axis, which is stationary withrespect to the chassis, and operatively coupled to said support meansfor selectively driving said support means in a first direction withrespect to the chassis; and second eccentric means rotatable about asecond different axis, which is also stationary with respect to thechassis, and operatively coupled to said support means for selectivelydriving said support means in a second direction with respect to thechassis.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first eccentric meansis operatively coupled to said support means by means cooperating withsaid first eccentric means to guide said support means in said seconddirection when selectively driven by said second eccentric means.
 3. Theinvention of claim 2 wherein said first eccentric means comprises atleast one eccentrically mounted drive member, and said support meansincludes at least one surface of an opening in said support means andengaging an associated drive member.
 4. The invention of claim 3 whereineach surface is oriented perpendicular to said first direction, and eachopening further providing a clearance with respect to its correspondingdrive member in the second direction.
 5. The invention of claim 1wherein said second eccentric means is operatively coupled to saidsupport means by means cooperating with said second eccentric means toguide said support means in said first direction when selectively drivenby said first eccentric means.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein saidsecond eccentric means comprises at least one eccentrically mounteddrive member, and said support means includes at least one surfaceengaging each drive member.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein eachsurface is oriented perpendicular to said second direction, and eachopening further providing a clearance with respect to its correspondingdrive member in the first direction.
 8. The invention of claim 5 whereinsaid second eccentric means comprises at least one eccentrically mounteddrive member, and said support means includes openings each openingreceiving an associated drive member, each opening having a pair ofoppositely oriented surfaces contacting said associated drive member. 9.The invention of claim 8 wherein each pair of said surfaces is orientedperpendicular to said second direction, and each opening furtherproviding a clearance with respect to its associated drive member in thefirst direction.
 10. The invention of claim 2 wehrein said firsteccentric means comprises at least one eccentrically mounted drivemember, and said support means includes openings each opening receivingan associated drive member, each opening having a pair of oppositelyoriented surfaces for contacting said associated drive member.
 11. Theinvention of claim 10 wherein each pair of said cam surfaces is orientedperpendicular to said first direction, and each opening furtherproviding a clearance with respect to its associated drive member in thesecond direction.
 12. The invention of claim 1 further comprising meansfor selectively rotating said first eccentric means while holding saidsecond eccentric means fixed, and for selectively rotating said secondeccentric means while holding the first eccentric means fixed, toselectively provide displacement of said support means in one of twodifferent directions with respect to said chassis.
 13. The invention ofclaim 12 wherein said rotating means comprises first and second arcuategear racks operatively coupled to first and second gears secured to saidfirst and second eccentric means respectively.
 14. The invention ofclaim 13 wherein said rotating means further comprises means including atimer gear of the machine for controlling the motion of said first andsecond arcuate gear racks to hold one of them against rotation and tointermittently rotate the other.
 15. The invention of claim 14 whereinsaid rotating means further comprises means for axially shifting saidtimer gear to hold said first arcuate gear rack fixed while rotating thesecond, or to hold the second arcuate gear rack fixed whileintermittently rotating the first.
 16. In combination: first and secondshafts; first and second gears secured respectively to said first andsecond shafts; and means including an axially shiftable timer gear forselectively holding a first one of said gears against rotation whileintermittently rotating the second, and for holding said second gearfixed while intermittently rotating said first gear.
 17. In combination:a first, stationary member; a second member displaceably mounted withrespect to the first member; first and second eccentric assemblies eachmounted for rotation about a respectively differeNt axis fixed withrespect to the first member and operatively interconnecting said firstand second members; and means for selectively rotating said firsteccentric assembly while holding the second assembly fixed, and meansfor selectively rotating said second eccentric assembly while holdingthe first assembly fixed, to selectively provide displacement of saidsecond member in one of two different directions with respect to thefirst member.
 18. The combination as defined in claim 17 for providingrelative movement between two members either in a first predetermineddirection or in a different direction, said members having openings,wherein: said first eccentric assembly includes a pair of eccentricseach having its shaft journaled in one of said members and the eccentricportion confined in an opening in the other member, said openings eachhaving one side extending in said first direction and engaging each saideccentric for producing movement in a direction generally perpendicularto said side when said eccentrics are rotated, said openings havingclearance for said eccentrics in other directions; and said secondeccentric assembly includes a thrid eccentric mounted to coact with saidtwo members, said third eccentric being journaled in one of said membersand being enclosed by an opening in the other member, said openinghaving opposed parallel sides extending in a different direction fromsaid first direction to produce relative motion of said members in saidfirst direction when said second eccentric assembly is rotated.
 19. Thecombination as defined in claim 17, comprising: means for positivelyrestraining rotation of the first eccentric assembly during operation ofsaid means for rotating the second eccentric assembly; and means forpositively restraining rotation of the second eccentric assembly duringoperation of said means for rotating the first eccentric assembly.